After the announcement of his departure from the head of the CFDT for the month of June and three months of arm wrestling over the pension reform, Emmanuel Macron assured Wednesday April 17 to have ” respect “ for Laurent Berger, saying that their relationship is not just about ” disagreement “ on pension reform. “He is someone for whom I have respect, dare I say friendship”affirmed the Head of State to the press during a trip to Alsace, stressing that he had “always very well done” with Laurent Berger.
The trade unionist was “a serious, demanding, sometimes tough partner”, said government spokesman Olivier Véran. With him, the government has “have been able to achieve significant progress for our country in terms of social rights or the evolution of work”added the Minister, citing “the latest agreement on the sharing of value in business”.
His commitment was hailed from all sides, from the first secretary of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, for whom “the unitary dynamic of the inter-union owes him a lot”to the boss of the Medef, Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux, who ensured on Twitter share “the same desire to bring social dialogue to life with high standards and loyalty”.
With Laurent Berger (@cfdtBerger), we share the same desire to bring social dialogue to life with high standards… https://t.co/kcBIYJYilu
“Intellectual and moral rigor”
Laurent Berger will be replaced on June 21 by the current number two of the CFDT, Marylise Léon. The general secretary of the CGT, Sophie Binet, welcomed this “feminization of trade unions”. ” It was expected. It was announced at the end of June so there will a priori be no impact at the level of the inter-union “she added, especially since “Marylise Léon already currently manages the inter-union”.
“I don’t think this will change the situation for the intersyndicale because Marylise Léon is in the same state of mind”abounds Benoît Teste (FSU), welcoming the “intellectual and moral rigor” by Laurent Berger and “the fact that he engaged the CFDT in trade union unity”.
At the head of the CFDT since 2012, the 54-year-old trade unionist announced at the organization’s congress in June 2022 that he would leave during his term of office. “It’s neither a whim, nor a choice dictated by current events”he assures Worldafter three months of arm wrestling over the pension reform, deeming it normal that the CFDT “renew”even if he recognizes “a particular period”.
Despite twelve days of action and the biggest mobilizations in the street for decades, the pension reform has not been stopped and the Constitutional Council has validated it.